Woman struck by dirt bike in Trenton

TRENTON — A woman was hit by a riderless dirt bike at 6:42 p.m. on Saturday night at the corner of North Clinton Avenue and Wall Street, police said.

The woman was hit after the operator of the dirt bike struck an all-terrain vehicle he was riding with along North Clinton Avenue and was thrown about 20 feet, while his motorcycle continued on striking the woman on the corner. Police said that the ATV operator was also launched from his vehicle and sent approximately 10 feet, the ATV operator received severe lacerations to the head and arm.

The dirt bike rider received injuries to his leg and arm police said, while the struck woman complained of back and leg pain. All involved were taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center.

At the hospital police attempted to question the rider of the ATV, but the rider was being treated in the trauma unit for his injuries. Officers were able to question the operator of the dirt bike, however.

Upon approaching the rider officers overheard him allegedly telling someone over the phone that he was riding along North Clinton Avenue with 10 other off-road vehicles.

The rider immediately ended the conversation when he noticed the officers, police said.

The rider told police that he and the ATV operator were watching a police vehicle that was behind them just prior to the incident. The dirt bike rider said that he looked back to check on the police vehicle when the ATV operator made a left turn in front of him, causing him to strike the ATV.

Sgt. John Breece said that officers are instructed not to give chase to riders on ATVs and dirt bikes, citing police policy and the risk to the safety of the public.

The names and ages were not released and it is not clear what charges might be filed.

The Trentonian previously reported in January on police efforts to crack down on ATVs and dirt bikes which are illegal to ride in the city. Police seized one quad from an Ardmore Avenue garage after they receiving a tip about several of the off-road vehicles being stored there.

In that report police outlined a plan to issue summonses to riders who police have identified as legal owners of the off-road vehicles.

The ongoing problem of ATVs in the city has been tough for police to combat after a tenuous seven-year legal battle following the death of 53-year-old Leatha Barr, a Bucks County, Pennsylvania resident and employee of Trenton Psychiatric Hospital. Barr was killed after being struck by an ATV being operated by, then 16-year-old Recardo McKoy, on East State Street in June of 2002, when he went through police barricades after being ordered to stop.

In 2009 McKoy pleaded guilty after a hung jury in 2008 was unable to reach a verdict in the case against McKoy in the death of Leatha Barr after it was alleged that he had swerved around an officer attempting to get him to stop.

Prior to the 2002 death of Leatha Barr, McKoy’s ATV had been seized by police, in January 2002. McKoy’s ATV which had been impounded at Walnut Avenue and Chambers Street was released three-days later, McKoy’s mother, Marcia Dearien. Police said that McKoy had given a fake name of Jacquis Edmonds and that Dearien continued the lie and claimed to be Edmonds mother, which allowed the ATV to be released.

Police said during a city council meeting in January that unless the riders pull over like regular motorists, there is little they can legally do.

Also in January during the search of an Ardmore Avenue garage, it was determined that most of the quads stored at the location were owned legally. Police took the names and addresses of those owners and are able to send them summonses if they observe those riders on the street. The challenge for police is the ability to recognize an individual, or ATV, as police previously reported that parts are often swapped among the ATVs. If police do not recognize a rider, or do not have the necessary information, they cannot issue a summons.

Police said in January that if enough tickets are accrued by a rider, they have the ability to issue an arrest warrant, but still face the challenges outlined above.